A Century of Spectrum Overregulation and the Quest to Liberate Wireless Technologies

With the FCC’s relentless drive to regulate new technologies, a look back at the history of the federal government’s spectrum regulation can shed light on how to encourage innovation and competition in the wireless industry.

On Wednesday, December 9th, Professor Thomas Hazlett discussed his forthcoming book, __The Political Spectrum: From Marconi to the iPhone, The Quest to Liberate Wireless Technologies of Freedom__, in which he offers a revealing account of regulators’ suppression of competition and innovation over the past century, debunks the popular myth that regulators rescued the airwaves from chaos, and argues that the wireless market’s full potential can only be unleashed through spectrum deregulation.

Thomas Hazlett holds the H.H. Macaulay Endowed Chair in Economics at Clemson University, where he also serves as Director of the Information Economy Project. Professor Hazlett previously served as Chief Economist of the Federal Communications Commission. Professor Hazlett’s widely published research focuses on regulation of telecommunications and the information sector. Professor Hazlett’s forthcoming book, __The Political Spectrum: From Marconi to the iPhone, The Quest to Liberate Wireless Technologies of Freedom__, will be published in the spring of 2016 by Yale University Press. Hudson Institute Senior Fellow and former FCC Commissioner Harold Furchtgott-Roth moderated the event.

Click here to view Dr. Hazlett's slides.